It was the inaugural Sydney Fashion Festival, and one aimed at making consumers spend on high fashion.

As Australia faces a retail slump, sexy lingerie and glamorous gowns were called upon to get the public excited about buying up fashion again.

Australian high-end fashion designer Alex Perry, who is termed Sydney's "king of glamour gowns" told news.com.au that it has been difficult to get consumers to part with their money for designer fashion, since "it's seen as a luxury spend, not like the underwear and day clothes you always need to buy."

While there is the industry-focused Australian Fashion Week, which is a trade-based event for fashion insiders, Sydney Fashion Festival, like Singapore's own Fashion Festival that concluded in March this year, is a consumer event to bring fashion to the public.

Australian lingerie labels such as Crystelle, Antz Pantz and Australian stalwart Bonds put together show-worthy runway hits as models and dancers took to the stage in lacy bits and skimpy negligees.

With over 80 Australian labels in the spotlight, it was an event that brought Sydney-siders closer to high fashion.

The festival ended last Sunday on Aug 17, 2008.

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